A printer file defined within an application program is
called a program
described printer file. This means that the file, record, and field descriptions aredefined internally within the data
division. With this method, reportspecifications
are hard-coded
into
the program and become part of the program’scompiled object.

B.Externally described printer file

Printer files that contain report
specifications can be defined externally to any program that uses them. This
means that the report specifications for a printer file are described
separately from any programs and compiled into a printer file object (Type=PRTF).

Two ways of making Externally described
printer file:

B (1) èExternally described
printer file can be made directly using STRSEU.

B (2) èExternally described
printer file can be made directly using STRRLU.

ØAdvantage of using an externally described printer file

oSome changes can be made to a printer file without having to
recompile the program using it.

oIt eliminates the specifications necessary to define the report
within the program.

oThere are some software tools that will allow you to generate
reports and produce the DDS.

Step(5)èOn FLD1 Press F10 à Give option 1 to select the fields
fromdatabase file MASTER à Press Enter à Press Enter à The selected field appears at the
bottom of the screen à Place the cursor at the FLD1 Line
where you want the field to appear à Press Enter. It will place the
field definition there.